Add a blood donation to your summer plans

06/17/13 It’s that time of year to gear up for fun in the sun. School’s out, vacations are planned and longstanding routines are replaced with carefree, casual days. It’s also a time when the need for blood often outpaces donations.

High school and college students donate about 20 percent of the blood collected through the American Red Cross at scheduled drives on their campuses. When those drives are not held during the summer months donation totals drop. In addition, individuals who donate regularly at their place of worship, workplace or a donor center may overlook giving blood when summer activities fill calendars.

“The need for blood never takes a vacation,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “We encourage everyone who can donate to pick a date, make an appointment and honor that appointment to help keep our community blood supply strong.”

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. These individuals are someone’s friend, relative or neighbor. What if one of your loved ones needs blood this summer? Will the blood be available when needed?

“The Red Cross and the patients who receive lifesaving blood depend on volunteers to donate blood, even during the summer,” said Whitman. “Add a blood donation to your list of summer activities. Your single donation could help save the lives of up to three patients and impact the lives of those three patients’ friends and relatives.”

The next upcoming American Red Cross Blood drive in our area is Monday, June 17th , from 1:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, located at 1400 North Pioneer Drive in Plymouth. This is a Fallen Officer blood drive.

To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Indiana and Ohio), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

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